As Hawaii’s Mauna Loa erupts in 40 years, islanders look forward to busy days welcoming tourists
MAUI COUNTY, HAWAII: Hawaii's Mauna Loa, the biggest active volcano in the world, has erupted for the first time in over 40 years. Mauna Loa, the volcano began erupting in Moku‘aweoweo Caldera on Sunday, November 27, 2022, at approximately 11.30 pm. Following many warnings that an eruption was probably due to a spate of recent earthquakes in the area, including more than a dozen confirmed tremors.
A feared natural calamity appears to have a good chance of being avoided because the molten rock is fortunately not heading in the direction of any populated areas. In fact, according to Hawaiian tourism experts, they anticipate that the magnificent eruption of Mauna Loa would drive tourism to unprecedented heights. According to the USGS, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. The previous eruption in 1984 sent lava flows within five miles of Hilo, the island's most populous town. "I tell my guests, these are moments where you don't want to pass up," Volcano Village Lodge owner Pua Norris told KLTV. "You don't want to miss it. Of course, safety first," he said. Adding, "But look at how amazing it is."
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Miles Yoshioka, executive officer of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, as per Daily Mail stated that the Big Island could watch the eruption as brilliant lava and smokey ash are still shooting 200 feet into the air from Mauna Loa as it erupted for the first time in 38 years. As lava is pouring away from populous areas and has stopped approximately 11 miles from Saddle Road, which runs through the center of the Big Island, officials now claim that the worst-case scenario has been avoided.
However, according to the experts, the volcano is following the course of previous known eruptions and has spilled into an area that is not populated rather than South Kona, which is home to over 22,000 people. In the worst case, the volcano could also reach the outskirts of Hilo, which is home to 45,000 people. However, the experts held that it was still too early to draw any conclusions and that things may always become worse. At a press conference on Monday afternoon, November 28, Mayor Mitch Roth stated, "Right now, it seems like the lava is going to a positive place as far as keeping away from the public and everything like that — away from the property."
Ken Hon, the chief scientist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory of the US Geological Survey, in a report said that it may take up to a week before the lava ever hits Hilo's outskirts. He did, however, issue a warning that the eruption is still in its early stages and might rapidly get worse, joining state, county, and emergency management officials in stating so. Yet, while the eruption is exciting for the island’s small business community, the Hawaii Island Chamber has expressed concern about the possibility of the flow affecting business negatively if it makes it's way closer to the towns.
“Vantage points are available pretty much around the island to see the current eruption, but we are worried about the impacts on a flow no matter which direction it goes,” said HICC executive officer Yoshioka. HICC represents about 300 businesses on the east side of the county, while the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce works with companies on the western portion. Volcano Village back in 2018 and again in 2020, witnessed an uptick in bookings when Kilauea started erupting again.